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Zane Lowe Says Jimmy Iovine Told Him 'Don't Be Boring' in New Interview

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Beats 1 DJ Zane Lowe discussed a range of topics, including Apple executive Jimmy Iovine's advice to him and his own personal history, in a new interview with Vice's music channel Noisey.


When he first arrived at Apple Music, Lowe said there was only one piece of advice Iovine had given him. "I was trying to go and seek sage-like advice from the master," Lowe said. Iovine had asked him how work at Beats 1 was going, but when Lowe began to tell him that they were working hard Iovine simply told him to not be boring.

Lowe also gives Noisey a tour of his office at Apple Music, pointing out the mementos he's collected throughout his career. Ruminating on his career, Lowe talked about how he enjoyed his 12 years at BBC Radio 1 but that he was excited about the possibility of Apple's music project as he believes that the technology and entertainment industries need to embrace each other more. For instance, he points out he ability to broadcast to devices rather than radios in a car or on a desk as something that excited him.

While Lowe is one of the more well-known DJs in radio, he does admit that he's mostly known as the "old guy who interviewed Kanye West once," referring to his popular interview with the artist on BBC Radio 1 in 2013.

The DJ also comments on life in Los Angeles, saying that he and his wife like the area because of its similarities to their native Auckland, New Zealand. Though he does say that he's searched for a centralized area where people tend to hang out and do things, similar to the hubbub of a big city like London.

Lowe concludes the interview by talking about an experience he had with producer Mark Ronson and other anecdotes with artists throughout his career. Of the artist-led radio shows on Beats 1, Lowe says that Apple Music doesn't give them any restrictions or rules; they can choose to play whatever they want.

Top Rated Comments

Solomani Avatar
131 months ago
Just don't.

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Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
unsaltedrhino Avatar
131 months ago
It's BBC Radio 1, BBC One is the TV channel.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
gleepskip Avatar
131 months ago
I didn't realize Beats 1 was still a thing. ;)
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nortofthe13th Avatar
131 months ago
I didn't realize Beats 1 was still a thing. ;)
Yup. And there are a lot of great shows! It's actually really fun to tune into a favorite show or an interview or requests when you get to hear what other people like! Zane Lowe is great! Haim Time, St. Vincent's Mixtape Delivery Service, Rocket Hour, and they are adding new shows all the time. Some are kinda a mix of radio and a podcast, which is great. Sure every show isn't for everybody, but there's really tons of options! :cool::)
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nburwell Avatar
131 months ago
How ironic that Iovine told Zane, "Don't be boring." When Iovine was the boring one during his Apple Music Keynote speech at WWDC 2015.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
131 months ago
How ironic that Iovine told Zane, "Don't be boring." When Iovine was the boring one during his Apple Music Keynote speech at WWDC 2015.
hahahaha I thought the same thing. How did this guy become a successful promoter? Iovine is the worst pitchman I’ve heard. His appearance on the CBS Morning Show could have been done better by a retarded goat.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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